Dispensing device



March 22, 1938. w. F. MULLER DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 9, 1957 I 'INVENTOR J "ATTOR Y.

. r Iv v f A Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT O FFIQE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved dispensing device to deliver a predetermined amount of crystalline, granular or pulverized material. The device is particularly adapted to deliver small 5 quantities of such materials and may be employed by pharmacists in making up prescriptions or may be used by individuals using small quantities of materials or preparations in crystalline granular or pulverized form.

10 The object of the invention is to prove such a dispensing device which can be easily and inconspicuously manipulated by one hand, and can be cheaply manufactured in a multitude of sizes, which is attractive so that it can be used as a 15 sales package and which can be so assembled that it can not be refilled without distorting it.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side view of a dispensing device made according to my in- 20 vention. Figure 2 is a front view of the dispensing device shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a central vertical section of the device shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a section on line 44 in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a detail section of the lower part of 25 the device with the delivery of material accomplished. Figure 6 is a detail section of the upper part of the device showing one method of securing the slide to prevent the refilling of the chamber. l

30 The device is composed of a receptacle and a slide, the receptacle being preferably made of material that is light in weight and that can be molded, the b'akelite type being preferred. The slide is preferably made of sheet metal.

35 The receptacle may be made of three pieces, a body portion l0, and side pieces I I, all three held together permanently by rivets I2.

The body portion is provided with a chamber l3 for material M, the chamber being open at 4 the front and having an inclined bottom l to direct material toward the front when the device is held upright.

The side pieces II are provided each with a groove I6 in line with the front of the body portion I0. The slide l1 fits these opposed grooves and forms the front of the chamber l3. The slide is normally flush at its bottom edge with the bottom of the chamber l3 and has a measuring cup 50 I8 of varying size and shape opening inwardly into the chamber l3 and normally in position at the bottom of the inclined bottom [5 of the casing. The casing has the fiat bottom face [9 across which the cup passes to wipe material 55 from the cup as it passes when pushed down thus limiting the amount delivered to the same quantity at each delivery.

The slide is bent over at the top, as at 26, to form a finger piece and is spaced from the top of the body portion to form a housing. Inside this 5 housing is the spring 2| interposed between the receptacle and the housing. The receptacle is usually provided with a seat 22 for the spring which holds the spring in place.

The slide is carried down beyond the housing 10 to the rear face of the receptacle as at 23. The body portion In is recessed at M and the end of the rear part 26 of the slide is bent over to form a stiff lip 25 which rests in the recess 24. The ends of the recess act to limit the movement of the slide when the slide is pushed down and when it is returned to normal position by the spring 2|.

In operating this dispensing device it is held in an upright position between thumb and middle finger of the hand. The index finger is then pressed down on the finger piece 20 and the yielding support of the spring 2! is overcome. The slide descends and carries the material contained in the cup Hi from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 5, where it is discharged by gravity.

In Figure 6 is shown a dispensing device which is non-refillable. The rear part 26 of the slide is provided with a slot 21. The headed screw or rivet 28 is located in the slot and as it is secured 30 firmly in the body of the device it acts to hold the slide against removal and in addition it acts to limit the movement of the slide.

Various changes can be made in the form and proportion of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device comprising a receptacle,

2. flat slide of sheet material forming the front of the receptacle and slidable on the receptacle, said slide bent over at the top, and a spring interposed between said top and the upper part of the receptacle, the lower part of the slide having a measuring cup open to the interior of the receptacle when in normal position.

2. A dispensing device comprising a receptacle, a slide of sheet material forming the front of the receptacle and slidab-le on the receptacle, said slide being bent over at the top, and then down to engage the back of the receptacle to form a housing, and a spring in said housing for yieldingly holding the slide in normal position, said slide having an inwardly opening measuring cup positioned to be at the bottom of the interior of the receptacle when the slide is in normal position.

3. A dispensing device comprising a receptacle open at the front, a slide forming the front of the receptacle and including a measuring cup opening toward the receptacle, being normally open to the interior of the receptacle and movable to a point beyond the receptacle, the slide being bent over at the top to form a finger piece and spaced from the receptacle to form a housing, the receptacle having a recess in the back, the end of the slide being bent into the recess to form means for limiting the amount of movement of the slide, and a spring interposed between the receptacle and the finger piece to yieldingly hold the slide in normal position.

4. A dispensing device comprising a receptacle having a body portion open at the front and having a bottom inclining toward the front, the body portion having a recess on its back face, side pieces secured to the body portion and extending above the body portion and having grooves in line with the front face of the body portion, a slide in the grooves and forming the front of the receptacle and having a cup opening into the receptacle and normally at the bottom of the inclined bottom of the receptacle, the slide being bent over at the top and spaced from the body portion and having its end bent into the recess of the body portion and a spring interposed between the bent-over top of the slide and the top of the body portion.

WOLF F. MULLER. 

